Same Day Appointments Available

SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE

How do I find a counselor?

Let's look at some easy steps to start your mental wealth journey.

A lot of women come into our clinic scared and in crisis. They’ve either just found out they’re pregnant and don’t want to be or maybe they’re worried they have an STI. All women are welcome at Alcove Health. We try to alleviate those fears by providing free pregnancy testing, free limited STI testing, and free ultrasounds. We give women a safe space to talk and share their worries with no judgment. But sometimes, our clients need more than an options consultation and they want to find a counselor to help them.

Often, they are scared or confused about what kind of licensed counselor they should look for and what the process looks like. It can be overwhelming even to think about how to find a counselor. What kind of counselor do I need? What qualifications should they have? Do I want in-person or online sessions? Do I need insurance? What can I expect? What does the process look like? Let’s look at some easy steps to start your mental wealth journey. And yes, I meant to say “wealth.” Your mental health is vital to your overall health.

Before you make that first call or fill out that form, here are some helpful questions to ask yourself.

1. Why do I want to find a counselor?

a. What issues do you want to address? If you don’t know, that’s ok! Just being willing to try therapy is a huge step. Your counselor can help you figure out what you want to address in your sessions.

b. Some issues you may want help with include past adult or childhood trauma, sexual abuse or relational concerns.

2. What kind of therapist do I want?

There are many different types of mental health professionals. I provided some helpful information below.

3. What can I expect when I find a counselor?

a. Many websites offer online inquiry forms. You can fill these out and submit them and someone from the office will contact you to gather more information and schedule an appointment.

b. You will most likely be asked to fill out some initial forms that will help the therapist assess your needs. Then you will have your initial appointment where you discuss your assessments, talk about your needs, and get to know your therapist.

c. Toward the end of your session, the counselor will ask you if you would like to make another appointment.

d. Your counselor will likely go over what you want to get out of your sessions. Try to be honest with yourself and your counselor.

4. Do I need insurance?

It really depends on the practice. Many counseling offices take insurance. Some do self-pay. This is an important question to address when making an appointment.

If you want to find a counselor, here is a list of what kinds of mental health professionals are out there and what all those letters mean.

LPC – Licensed Professional Counselor (Also CMHC – Clinical Mental Health Counselor)

They address a variety of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, personality disorders, addictions, trauma, post-abortion stress syndrome, post-partum depression, and many others.

LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Typically short-term, treating couples and families experiencing clinical problems like depression, marital problems, anxiety, and child-parent problems.

LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Diagnose, treat, and provide preventative services for anyone experiencing psychological or social health problems or stress.